Lock box



May 25, 1955 E. SCHLAGE' I 3,185,296

LOCK BOX Filed Sept. 26, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l 55 1.53 l :7 "a 5/ aINVENTOR. FEWEJT L, 567/4465 I TTOPNE'YJ' May 25, 1965 E. SCHLAGE LOCKBOX Filed Sept. 26, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M x VVV Mn] w Mf a 3 m \M. L

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INVENTOR.

y 25, 1965 E. L. SCHLAGE 3,185,226

LOCK BOX Filed Sept. 26, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 flrrailviifs' INVENTOR.iiA/EJT 4. 56/1146! United States Patent 3,185,296 LOCK BOX Ernest L.Schlage, Burlingame, Calif., assignor to Schlage Lock Qompany FiledSept. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 226,324 4 Claims. (Cl. 20646) My invention isrelated generally to packages or enclosures for contents of the generalnature of door locks, particularly door locks of the cylindrical type.

It has been customary to package a cylindrical lock simply in an opaquecarton. When closed, the carton completely covers all parts of the lock.Indicia are used on the outside of the box in order to identify thecontents. The parts packaged together usually include two main portionsfor assembly at installation.

One portion of the lock includes a central body approximatelycylindrical and symmetrical about an axis. Projections extend fromeither side of the body along the axis and at their ends carry doorknobs. Situated on the projections with their planes extending normal tothe axis are rosettes (sometimes called roses) disposed on oppositesides of the central body. Either one or both of the rosettes isthreaded or otherwise movable axially, so that upon installation theycan be clamped against an intervening door panel.

The other portion of the lock is a latch bolt unit normally engaged uponinstallation with the central body to extend therefrom in a directionnormal to the lock axis in a position between the two rosettes. Certainother equipment is often furnished in the carton such as an installationspanner, attaching hardware, a strike plate and box, an installationtemplet, printed instructions and keys for the lock;

Potential lock customers are often quite interested in the externalappearance and finish of the lock, especially when mounted, and in themanner of working of the lock, particularly the feel of the lock whenmanually operated, and sometimes are interested in how the lock soundswhen actuated. Dealers are interested in visual inventory and readyidentification.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a lock box whichnot only serves all of the usual functions of protecting the lock duringshipment and storage and of keeping the lock components together foruse, but also has the attribute of exposing at least a portion of thelock to the prospective purchasers view and can easily be manipulated sothat a prospective purchaser may actually operate the lock mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock box having theseadvantages but which nevertheless is comparable to boxes historicallyused and which can be fabricated and handled without serious change inthe customary technique.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved lockbox which is sturdy and no higher in cost than the usual boxes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lock box inwhich the lock is better protected in handling and shipment by beingfirmly mounted in the box rather than simply being loosely disposedtherein.

Another object of the invention is in general to provide an improvedlock box.

Other objects together with the foregoing are attained in theembodiments of the invention described in the accompanying descriptionand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan of a single sheet blank for one form of a part of alock box pursuant to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric View of the blank of FIG- URE 1 in partiallyerected condition;

3,185,296 Patented May 25, I955 FIGURE 3 is a view comparable to FIGURE2 but showing the box in a further partially erected condition; FIGURE 4is an isometric view of the form of lock box shown in FIGURES 1-3 but incompletely erected and closed condition with a lock therein;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section to an enlarged scale, the plane of sectionbeing indicated by the lines 5-5 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of a modified form of lock box pursuant tothe invention with the box in closed condition and with a lock packedtherein;

FIGURE 7 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line77 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an isometric View of a further modified form of lock boxwith a lock installed therein and the box closed; and

FIGURE 9 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line9-9 of FIGURE 8.

While the lock box pursuant to the invention can be embodied in a numberof different forms, it has been successfully embodied in the relatedforms disclosed here- In the form particularly illustrated in FIGURESl-S, the box is principally made up of an enclosure fabricated from asingle sheet of appropriate material such as fiberboard or particularlyof a corrugated board faced on both sides with a smooth sheet and havingsome deformability and resilience without rupture. The box isparticularly designed for use with a lock 7 having a central body 8 thatis usually approximately circular cylindrical and is symmetrical about acentral axis 9. Secured to and projecting from each side of the centralbody are projections 11 and 12 arranged in alignment and symmetricallydisposed with regard to the axis 9. The projections ultimately carryknobs 13 and 14 which can be at least partially rotated about the axis 9to actuate the lock.

Disposed on opposite sides of the central body 8 and surrounding theprojections 11 and 12 are roses or rosettes 16 and 17. Each of these hasan approximately planar face 18 normal to the axis 9 and is arranged onone side of the body 8 so that a normal end face 19 of the body isopposite the end face 18. Sometimes one of the rosettes 16, for example,is fixed on the projection 11, whereas the other rosette 17 is threadedon its projection 12 and by rotation is thus axially movable toward andaway from the other rosette and the central body 8. In other instances,both of the rosettes 16 and 17 may be so moved on their respectiveprojections so as to have relative movement toward and away from eachother along the axis 9.

The lock includes when assembled a latch bolt unit 21 including amounting plate 22 and a movable latch bolt 23. When this unit isinterengaged with the central body 8, the latch bolt projects normallyto the axis 9 about midway of the axial length of the body 8.

Pursuant to the invention, one form of the lock box is preferably inpart fabricated from a single sheet 26 of material such as doubly facedcorrugated fiberboard. The sheet, although of one piece, is preferablycontoured and scored or marked to divide it into various differentpanels, tabs and zones. A rectangular bottom panel 27 is bounded byopposite side edges 28 and 29 as well as transversely extending foldlines 31 and 32. The planar panel 27 is made somewhat shorter than thecustomary lock box and may even be shorter than the lock, and in use isadapted to lie along at least one portion of the lock with the plane ofthe panel 27 parallel to the axis 9.

On the other side of the fold line 31 the blank includes a front panel33 terminating in a top edge 34 provided with a finger notch 36. Alongone side, the panel 33 is demarked from a reduced end fiap 37 by a foldline 38. Along the other side the front panel 33 is distinguished by amultiple fold line 39 from an end wall core 41. This is of approximatelyrectangular outline but along one otherwise rectilinear edge 42 has acutout arcuate portion 43 of slightly larger radius than that of thelock projections 11 and 12.

Adjoining the bottom panel 27 is a rectangular rear panel 46 having afold line 47 and end fold lines 48 and 49. On the other side of the foldline 48 is a closed end panel 51 approximately square in outline andhaving an end edge 52. The panel 51 has a forward fold line 53 and arearward multiple fold line 54. The fold line 53 is the boundary of aflap 56 having a meandering cut 57 forming a lip 58; On the other sideof the. multiple fold line 54 is an approximately rectangular wall 59separated from an intermediate panel 61 by a partial fold line 62 and aout line defining a tab, 63. The intermediate panel 61 is separated by afold line 64 from an end flap 66.

The rear panel 46 is adjoined across the fold line 49 by a mounting wall67 on one portion partially divided by a fold line 68 from a tab 69 witha meandering cut 71 to afford a lip 72. The remaining part of thesupport wall 67 is distinguished by a multiple fold line 73 from aterminal panel 74 having a reduced outlinecontour defining a tongue 76.Straddling the fold line 73 is an opening 77 of slightly greater radiusthan that of the projections 11 and 12 and located in alignment with thecutaway portion 43.

Next to the back panel 46 on the other side of the fold line 47 is arectangular top panel 78, being separated from a front flap 79 by a foldline 81. The top panel 78 is also demarked from a mounting panel 82 by afold line 83. The panel 82 is divided to form a terminal panel 84 by amultiple fold line 86 intersecting a cutout to afford an opening 87 inalignment with and of the same diameter as the opening 77.

In folding the box, the panel 27 is placed on a horizontal surface andthe flap 56 and the tab 69 are bent upwardly around their respectivefold lines 53 and 68, the lips 58 and 72 being bent therewith. Then theassembly including the panel 46, the end panels 51 and the wall 67 andtheir appurtenances are folded upwardly about the fold line 32. Sincethe members 56 and 69 have previously been bent upwardly, after theupward folding of the panel 46 the end panel 51 and the end wall 67 canbe swung inwardly toward each other with the fiap 56 and the tab 69directly overlying the bottom panel 27.

Following that, the end flap 37 and the wall core 41 are swung upwardlyabout their respective fold lines 38 and 39. Then the front panel 33 isfolded upwardly about the fold line 31. This brings the end flap 37 andthe wall core 41 into position overlying the upright panel 51 and thewall 67 on the inward sidethereof. Subsequently, the wall 59 is foldeddownwardly on the multiple fold lines 54 and thus overlies the end flap37. During this operation the fold 62 is flexed but the tongue 63 isforced downwardly into the lip 58. Since the lip material is somewhatdeformable, the tab 63 is forced into position just against the edgebounded by the cut 57. The panel- 61 then lies horizontally above thebottom panel 27 and against the flap 56. The flap 66 is then foldedupwardly so that it is substantially parallel to the upstanding endpanel 51 and thus defines an auxiliary compartment 101.

Somewhat similarly at the other end of the device, the wall 67 is foldedupwardly on the outside of the wall core 41 and then the panel 74 isturned downwardly on the multiple fold lines 73 against the inside ofthe wall core so that the tongue 76 deforms the lip 72 slightly andrests against the edge formed by the cut 71. This fold results in thecircular aperture 77 taking on a semicircular configuration 43 andaffords a half wall 103 of three adjacent thicknesses of material. Thebox is then sufficiently erected for loading and in addition to theauxiliary compartment101 defines a main compartment 102. At this time,if desired the panel 84 is folded on the multiple fold line 86 to lieagainst the panel 82, giving the opening 87 a semicircularconfiguration.

At this stage, it is appropriate to load the compartment 191 withauxiliary mechanism such as the latch bolt unit 21, instructions, keysand other accouterments. The lock is loaded in the compartment 102 ofthe box in such a fashion that the end face 19 of the body 8 lies on oneside of the half wall 103 as defined by the members 41, 67 and 74 andthe end face 18 of one of the rosettes 17 lies on the other side of thewall. The knob 14 projects freely.

After loading, the folded top panel 78 is brought down into positionwith the front flap 79 tucked inside of the front panel 33. During thistime the top mounting panels 82 and 84 in doubled and folded positionare brought down substantially coplanar with the bottom walls 67 and 74,to lie between the body 8 and the rosette 17. The cutout portions of thebottom panels and the top panels lie around the projection 12 on oneside of the lock body. Following this, the movable rosette 17 is rotatedto approach the body 8 and to clamp at least the walls 67 and 74 inplace. The lock is effectively mounted in the package and is clamped inplace. This holds the main body of the lock stationary for greatersecurity in shipment. Also, the exposed knob 14 can be turned in theusual way for trial or test without removing the lock from the box. Themounted lock can be tightened to clamp the resilient top and bottom boxends together so that the box during shipment and normal handling doesnot come open. If additional securing means are desired, the front flap79 can be held within the box by adhesive. With the clamped closureadhesive is preferably omitted.

To effectuate the final enclosure of the lock, the box as described issupplemented by an end closure 104 pref:

erably comprising an envelope of suificient volume easily to accommodatethe knob and preferably fabricated of a transparent, semistiii materialsuch as a clear plastic. The closure 104 is made up of a pair of sidewalls 106 and 107, a bottom wall 108, a top wall 109 and an end wall111. Visible through the end Wall 111 is an opaque card 112 havingprinted on it various identifying indicia pertinent to the enclosedlock. The closure 104 is a fairly tight frictional fit on the remainingpart of the package and assists in keeping it closed.

In normal use the package can be left on a counter for display. When thelock is to be operated, the telescopic closure 104 can readily bewithdrawn to expose the knob. When the rest of the lock is to beexamined, the rosette 17 can be slightly loosened by hand if it is tootight to permit the box to be opened. Then the cover can be swung open.If the rosette 17 is not so tight as to clamp the top panels 82 and 84,the top cover can be swung open without turning the rosette. Since thebottom wall against which the rosette is clamped has three rather thanonly two thicknesses of material, it is possible to leave the lockclamped firmly in position even though the top is freely openable.

In stacking a plurality of boxes, the closure 104 is sufficiently thinso that considered with the general resilience of the package the normalshelf arrangement can be followed. When the boxes are stacked, thevarious knob styles available are readily determinable by distantinspection and without necessitating the close reading of the indicia onthe card 112.

A variation in the arrangement, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, has a lowerenclosure 121 made of similar material and includes a base panel 122, atop panel 123, end panels 124 and a back panel 126. A flanged frontclosure panel 127 is designed to be folded on a hinge line 128 below thetop of the base structure. Upstanding from and permanently secured tothe top panel 123 is a mounting block 131 conveniently formed of arelatively stiff but light plastic foam material. 7 The block 131 has anopening 129 to receive the body 8 of the lock with the rosettes 16 and17 disposed on either side. thereof. In this instance, the lock ispartially disassembled and reassembled just as it would be for mountingon a door in order to be properly positioned within the block. When thelock is located in its support, the rosettes are tightened, and both endknobs are visible and available for trial operation. The box iscompleted by the telescopic positioning of a transparent closure 132conveniently made of clear plastic. The top closure 132 engages thevarious front, back and end walls of the base with sufficient frictionto hold the assembly in position. Since the fold line 128 is below thelower edge of the closure 132, the lower compartment 133 containing theauxiliary mechanism such as the latch bolt unit, the keys, theinstalling spanner, instructions, screws, and the like, is alwaysavailable. This box gives a nearly complete display of the lock unit,makes both knobs readily accessible for operation by removal of thecover 132, afiords space for identifying indicia on the end panels andstacks on the shelves in the customary way.

A further modification to afford operation of the complete lock isprovided in the arrangement shown in FIG- URES 8 and 9 in which the baseenclosure 136 is substantially identical with that shown in FIGURES 6and 7 except that it has a greater width. The top panel 137 of the baseenclosure is provided with an upstanding fixed member 138 convenientlyof stiff plastic foam contoured substantially as shown. There is notonly a through aperture 139, as in FIGURES 6 and 7, but also there is anintersecting cross bore 141 in the block simulating a regular door. Thelock is installed with the lock body 8 within the through bore 139 andin addition the latch bolt unit 142 is installed in the cross bore 141,being interengaged with the lock body in the normal way. The latch bolt143 projects normally so that the block 133 has an overhanging ledge 144to serve as a protection or guard. This package is completed by thesuperposition of a transparent plastic closure 146 frictionally engagingthe base.

The hinged panel 147 of the base need not be big enough to accommodatethe latch bolt unit but does accommodate such auxiliaries .as a strikeplate and box, miscellaneous screws, instructions, spanner forinstallation, and the like. When the box is assembled as shown, it canbe placed on the counter for display or can be stored on a shelf. Whenthe transparent cover 146 is removed, operation of either of the handlesindicates the functioning of the lock including the working of the latchbolt.

What is claimed is:

l. A lock box for a lock with a central body having a projectionextending from said body along an axis and having a rosette on saidprojection movable along said axis toward said body, said box comprisinga single sheet of material cut and folded to provide the following: awall adapted to lie along at least one portion of said lock and toextend parallel to said axis, a partition extending from said walltoward said projection in a position between said body [and saidrosette, said partition being in the axial path of said rosette andoccupying substantially all of the space between said body and saidrosette to be gripped between said rosette and said body when saidrosette is moved toward said body, and means engaging 6 said wall andextending around and enclosing at least some of the remaining portion ofsaid lock.

2. A lock box for a lock with a central body having a projectionextending from said body along an axis and having a rosette on saidprojection movable along said axis toward and away from said'body, saidbox comprising a wall adapted. to lie along at least one portion of saidlock and to extend parallel to said axis, a partition extending fromsaid wall toward said projection between said body and said rosette andoccupying substantially all of the space between said body and saidrosette, said partition being in a position to be gripped between saidbody and said rosette when said rosette is moved toward said body, andmeans engaging said wall and extending around and enclosing at leastsome of the remaining portion of said lock.

3. A look box for a lock with a central body having projectionsextending from opposite sides of said body along an axis and having.rosettes on said projections relatively movable along said axis towardand away from each other, said box comprising a wall adapted to liealong at least one portion of said lock and to extend parallel to saidaxis, a partition extending from said wall toward said projectionsbetween said rosettes, said partition occupying substantially all of thespace between said rosettes and being in a position to be grippedbetween said rosettes when said rosettes are moved toward each other,and means engaging said wall and extending around and enclosing at leastsome of the remaining portion of said lock.

4. A lock box for a lock with a central body having a projectionextending from said body along an axis and having a rosette on saidprojection movable along said axis toward and away from said body, saidbox comprising a wall adapted to lie along at least one portion of saidlock and to extend parallel to said axis, a partition extending fromsaid wall toward and at least partly around said projection and havingtwo opposite faces normal to said axis located between said body andsaid rosette, said partition substantially occupying all of the spacebetween said body and said rosette and being in a position to be abuttedby said body and said rosette when said rosette moves toward said body,and means engaging said wall and extending around and enclosing at leastsome of the remaining portion of said lock.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,860,768 11/58Smithers 20646 2,956,687 10/60 Robichaud 206-46 2,971,640 2/61 Snelling206-46 3,015,428 1 62 Magazzu 20646 3,033,358 5/62 Mantell 206-463,044,608 7/ 62 Bachleder 20646 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

2. A LOCK BOX FOR A LOCK WITH A CENTRAL BODY HAVING A PROJECTIONEXTENDING FROM SAID BODY ALONG AN AXIS AND HAVING A ROSETTE ON SAIDPROJECTION MOVABLE ALONG SAID AXIS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID BODY, SAIDBOX COMPRISING A WALL ADAPTED TO LIE ALONG AT LEAST ONE PORTION OF SAIDLOCK AND TO EXTEND PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS, A PARTITION EXTENDING FROMSAID WALL TOWARD SAID PROJECTION BETWEEN SAID BODY AND SAID ROSETTE ANDOCCUPYING SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID BODY AND SAIDROSETTE, SAID PARTITION BEING IN A POSITION TO BE GRIPPED BETWEEN SAIDBODY AND SAID ROSETTE WHEN SAID ROSETTE IS MOVED TOWARD SAID BODY, ANDMEANS ENGAGING SAID WALL AND EXTENDING AROUND AND ENCLOSING AT LEASTSOME OF THE REMAINING PORTION OF SAID LOCK.